The 2018 Finals of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, the most anticipated weekend of the year, started today with two practice sessions for each NWES Division. Reigning champion and title contender Alon Day (#56 CAAL Racing Toyota Camry), currently second in points, clocked the fastest lap in Final Practice at the iconic Circuit Zolder around the 4 km of the Belgian track in 1:38.927, just 0.071 seconds shy of his 2015 track record. Guillaume Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro) led the ELITE 2 field thanks to a lap in 1:39.762, set in the afternoon session.
Day edged championship contender and Junior Trophy leader Loris Hezemans (#50 Hendriks Motorsport Ford Mustang) by 0.150 seconds. The Dutchman sits fourth in the ELITE 1 standings, only 12 points far from the leader. Another of the four contenders, Frederic Gabillon (#3 Tepac RDV Competition Toyota Camry) finished third with a 3 tenths gap to fill in qualifying. Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro) and Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) rounded out the top-5.
Christophe Bouchut (#66 Dexwet-DF1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro) returned to the wheel of the #66 Camaro and was sixth ahead of Alexander Graff (#77 Memphis Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and points leader Lucas Lasserre (#33 Mavi Mishumotors Chevrolet SS). Marc Goossens (#91 Braxx Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and Alex Sedgwick (#90 Braxx Racing Chevrolet Camaro) completed the top-10.
ELITE 2: Dumarey fastest on his home track
On the day of his birthday, Dumarey set the fastest time in the ELITE 2 Division, clocking his best lap in 1:39.762. Currently second in points, Ulysse Delsaux (#3 Tepac RDV Competition Toyota Camry) ended up behind Dumarey by a margin of 0.303 seconds. Paul Guiod (#73 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) edged championship leader Guillaume Deflandre (#77 Memphis Racing Chevrolet Camaro) for third. Kenko Miura (#2 Alex Caffi Motorsport Toyota Camry) rounded out the top-5.
Maciej Dreszer (#56 CAAL Racing Toyota Camry) was sixth in his NASCAR Whelen Euro Series comeback. The Polish edged Felipe Rabello (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro), Justin Kunz (#46 Racing Total Ford Mustang), Wilfried Boucenna (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) and Tom Boonen (#91 Braxx Racing Chevrolet Camaro) who closed the top-10. The Ford Mustang of championship contender Florian Venturi (#32 Go Fas Racing Ford Mustang) suffered damage on the right front end in a contact with Dreszer. The Frenchman ended up eleventh quickest.
The great show of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will resume tomorrow with the qualifying session, scheduled at 9:50 am, and the Final 1 of both Divisions: the ELITE 1 will start at 2 pm while the green flag for the ELITE 2 will wave at 4:50 pm. The most anticipated races of the year at the iconic Circuit Zolder will be streamed live on Fanschoice.tv, the Euro NASCAR Facebook page, Youtube channel and Twitter profile, on Motorsport.tv and on a vast network of websites and social media profiles.
